A STRUGGLING cinema which has had to close one of its screens due to vandalism hopes to be back in action by the weekend after a mystery benefactor pledged money towards its repair.

Bosses at the Scala Cinema, Prestatyn, which has faced funding cuts and staff reduncies, have been forced to run just half a business for three weeks following “deliberate damage” to a 3D projector in studio two.

The cinema initially faced a bill of £19,500 to replace the projector but engineers now believe they can fix the equipment, resulting in a lower repair fee of £6,000.

A total of £2,000 has been donated by a mystery benefactor to help meet the costs whilst other funds have been secured from a film support organisation.

Chris Bond, general manager of the Scala Cinema, said: “We don’t know for sure how it happened but the inside of the projector has basically been destroyed. It has had a major impact on business.”

“We are losing something like £3,000 a week.

“I felt like crying when I heard what had happened. There were lines going across the screen and it was just getting worse and worse.”

Mr Bond said the Scala was now praying for rain to bring customers in to make up lost money.

“We have Transformers starting soon and we really need every thing fixed by then - especially the summer. When the tourists and the young people come in it builds support for the rest of the year,” he said.

“The engineer comes Friday and fingers crossed he will bring good news.
Everything seems to go wrong at the same time.”

Before the donation was granted, members of the Scala board submitted an application to Prestatyn Town Council for a grant/loan to help with costs. Councillors were due to discuss the issue today, but Mr Bond said that the item had now been taken off the agenda.

Rhiannon Hughes, chair of the Scala, added: “It will be very difficult to make up the money that has been lost. We hope the community will rally round to get us through.”

A spokesperson for North Wales Police confirmed they had been alerted to the incident “The projector was damaged sometime during the day on Friday, May 30,”
they said.

“The exact circumstances on how the damage was caused is still the subject of investigation and inquiries are progressing.”

Anyone with information should contact the police Investigation Support Team on 101 quoting reference number RC14087209.